From the Hip: Horror Festival Producer: Jason Lord-Surratt

Jason Lord- Surratt is a director, improviser and educator. He began his endeavors in improvisation in Syracuse, NY. He went on to study at Second City in Chicago, while performing in and co-conceiving independent work. He ran Warhorse, a series of improvisational workshops, creating and producing 3 shows, now under the umbrella of NewFormat Improvisation, which he founded. Long-form improv works conceived and directed by Jason include: Lady Liberty and 61 Dead Men, based on Aristotelian formulations of tragedy, as well as Subway Series and Grassroots Grazing. Selected directing credits include Brian Flowers for the Brooklyn Play Festival, and Vanities, I Stand Before You Naked, and The Heidi Chronicles in various NY theaters. Special thanks to Rebecca Lord, his loving wife!

From the Hip: Horror Festival Producer: Bob Teague

Bob Teague is at various times an actor, director, playwright, stagehand and producer -- he recently returned to New York Theater after two decades as a journalist, writer and performer in the hinterlands of the American Deep South. His most recent New York efforts include having two of his plays, "Two in the Chamber" and "Nerve Damage", performed at the first Shotgun Theater Festival at The Gene Frankle Theatre. He has also directed "Nikita", by Rosebud Ben-Oni at The Producers Club and stage managed "Try, Try Again" for Tap Monkey Productions at The 45th Street Theater. He is proud to be part of Left Hip Productions.

From the Hip: Horror Festival Actor/Producer: Danika Wood

Danika Wood is excited to be a founding member of Left Hip Productions. She came to this group after performing in the first Shotgun Theater Festival in both the winning play and the first runner-up. The winning play, "Monkey", was expanded by playwright Jim Tierney and produced by Diamando Stratakos and Jason Surratt at the Gene Frankel Theatre as the prize for winning the festival. It has since been re-mounted at the Producer's Club, and will be shown again at the end of August at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. Danika has also been seen at the Flea Theater, Syracuse Stage, Hangar Theatre and Cortland Repertory Theatre. She will next be seen as The Nurse in the Queens Players upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet. She received a BFA in acting from Syracuse University.

From the Hip: Horror Festival Director: Samantha Lee Manas

Samantha Lee Manas has directed several plays in New York City including: Strangers in the Night, Orion, Invasion of the Parasites: An Inadvertant Allegory, Rodwarts World, Scenes from Othello, Scenes from Hamlet, and many more. She is the winner of best director at the Underground Theater Festival and a two time nominee for best director at the Strawberry One Act Festival. She has also assistant directed with the Kaos Theater in England where she worked on Richard III. She received her BFA in stage management from SUNY Purchase College’s Conservatory of Theater Arts and Film.

From the Hip: Horror Festival Playwright: David Potashnik

David Potashnik was born in Ukraine, but raised on the slightly mean streets of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. After the extremely mild success of his first play "Loving Susan," he was inspired to write three feature screenplays, a pet product commercial and the soon to be web sensation "Batman Vs. Spiderman with Dr. Phil mediating." His latest feature "4Chosen" is currently in pre-production. He is very excited to be working with From the Hip because "I love the theater and From the Hip is a cool name." David currently resides in New Jersey...although not by choice.

From the Hip: Horror Festival Actor: Katherine Gordon

Katherine Gordon is a young actress from San Diego, CA who has been living in NYC for about a year. She studied theatre at California State University of Northridge. This will be the 4th time she will be working with From the Hip productions. She loves working with everyone involved in the festivals. The festivals From the Hip produces are always new and exciting. Enjoy the show!

From the Hip: Horror Festival Actor: Leo Mendoza

Leo Mendoza is a recent transplant to New York, and is in love with the idea of drop off laundry service. He's got a multitude of improv and sketch credits, most recently with the independent team Imaginary Friends in Chicago and No Substitutions in New York. Recent Chicago Theatre credits include the Artistic Home's Modigliani (u/s, Utrillo), Garland Productions' Putman Transit, and Dramatis Personae's Monster Mash. He's extremely excited to work with Left Hip Productions and has been conditioning his body with coffee and Monster energy drinks for the 24 hour fun he's about to experience.